TECHNOLOGY
LA Textile Brings Trends in Fabric and Technology to the Forefront
By Dorothy Crouch, Contributing Writer | October 15, 2026
Downtown Los Angeles’ California Market Center hosted its semiannual LA Textile event Sept. 29–Oct. 1. Fashion creatives attended the show to explore trends in fabrics, supply chain and manufacturing for Fall/Winter ’27–’28.
With Digital Commerce Surging, Social Media Looks for Its Place in Retail
Social media has minted its own internet celebrities, but many entrepreneurs are trying to judge whether platforms such as Instagram and Facebook will make fortunes for retailers.
IBM Blockchain Tracks Supply Chain for Covalent’s AirCarbon Products
From its basic stages to the stockroom, Covalent AirCarbon material from Huntington Beach, Calif.’s, Newlight Technologies is now traceable along the supply chain using IBM Blockchain.
GiveAwae, a New Digital Platform, Aims to Bridge E-Commerce Gap
There is a digital divide in the business world, said entrepreneur Daniel Ejekwu, who is changing the digital landscape for small and medium-sized businesses when he launches GiveAwae on Jan. 13.
Emerald Acquires PlumRiver, Creator of the Elastic Suite Platform
The business-to-business platform builder Emerald Holdings, Inc., announced its acquisition of the business-to-business e-commerce and digital-merchandising solutions provider PlumRiver to cultivate its software-as-a-service technology.
Venmo to Begin Check-Cashing Service as Clients Receive Stimulus Payments
Social-payment application Venmo is entering the check-cashing business with its new Cash a Check feature.
Fashion-Tech Startup StyleScan Aims to Disrupt Fashion Photography
After two years in development, the Los Angeles–headquartered fashion-technology startup StyleScan will officially emerge from stealth mode and make a debut in the business-to-business market, said Larissa Posner, the company’s founder.
Digital-Commerce Gains Through Passport and Whatnot Funding
For two California digital-commerce companies, the year is ending with venture-capital funding.
IBM to Partner With Port of L.A. to Thwart Cybersecurity Threats
Taking steps to improve its response to cybersecurity threats to the supply chain, the Port of Los Angeles announced that the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the International Business Machines Corporation as the designer and operator of the port’s Cyber Resilience Center.
Tukatech Unveils On Demand 3D Services
The Los Angeles–headquartered fashion-technology company Tukatech has been rolling out services that help designers create garments virtually on a 3D platform. On Dec. 15, Tukatech announced that its TUKAcenter locations and its web-services portal, TUKAweb, will offer services to create 3D garments on demand, with Tukatech staff helping designers create clothes virtually.
After Being Acquired, Wynd Finesses Fulfillment Model
The up-and-coming New York City–based logistics-solutions company Wynd said that it has developed a logistics model that seeks to ease last-mile concerns not only for customers but for the businesses sending goods.
Financial-Technology Company Afterpay Reports Robust Holiday Business
Afterpay, the financial-technology company that provides an online platform for buy now, pay later layaway plans, reported one of its best performances in November, the traditional beginning of retail business for the winter holidays, according to a statement from the Australian-founded company that runs a San Francisco office.
Industry Focus: Technology—How Apparel-Technology Companies Could Reset the COVID-19 ‘Time Machine’
As consumers adapted to a new way of life with most of their shopping conducted through e-commerce, businesses that viewed this method of selling as uncharted territory learned quickly in order to survive. With almost nine months of COVID-19 under its belt, the apparel industry is rebooting, and, while the most-basic technologies have kept businesses relevant during this time, they will again have to adopt advanced methods of creating and selling apparel to remain agile, reduce waste and accommodate a changed, post-pandemic consumer.
Salesforce to Acquire Communications Platform Slack
Salesforce, the prominent customer-relationship-management platform, announced Dec. 1 that it had acquired Slack Technologies Inc.
Scanatic 360 Body Scanner Unveiled in Stockholm and Chicago Area
The Scanatic 360 Body Scanner device recently made a debut that spanned the globe.
Tony Hsieh, Former Zappos CEO, 46
Tony Hsieh, the celebrated entrepreneur who built the online shoe retailer Zappos.com into a $1 billion footwear-and-clothing company and spearheaded a revitalization of downtown Las Vegas, died Nov. 27.
